The Committee for Ethnic Affairs advises the Montgomery County, MD County Executive and County Council on public policy that relates to ethnic affairs; promotes maximum involvement of all ethnic groups in the County in government, business and community affairs.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Road Construction Projects Underway

Cedar Lane Bridge to Close for Reconstruction for 12 Weeks; Route 34 Ride On Bus Service to be Detoured Project Will Improve Bike Network; Other Pedestrian Projects Under Way

The bridge on Cedar Lane in Bethesda that carries traffic over Rock Creek is currently being rehabilitated because inspectors found that its concrete beams and piers were in poor condition.Beginning at

7 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, bridge reconstruction efforts will require that the bridge be closed for about 12 weeks.A temporary bridge will be available only for pedestrians.The bridge is expected to reopen August 24.

During the bridge closure, Ride On bus Route 34 will be detoured between Parkhill Drive and Beach Drive, and service to six bus stops, three in each direction, in that portion of the route will be temporarily discontinued.Instead, an extra bus will offer supplemental service for Route 34 to ensure that the route operates on time.The supplemental service will run between Wheaton Metrorail Station and Medical Center Station via Cedar Lane, Beach Drive, Connecticut Avenue, and Jones Bridge Road, using only existing Route 34 bus stops.Passengers should board at either Medical Center Station or any of the Parkwood Drive stops prior to Beach Drive.When the bridge reopens, Route 34 service will return to its normal routing.

The construction is related to transportation improvements in progress to address increased traffic expected as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) changes at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

The Cedar Lane Bridge was originally built in 1959 and the superstructure and pier caps must be replaced.A shared-use pedestrian and bicycle path will be added between Rock Creek Trail and Elmhirst Trail.

Other BRAC-related projects that are either ongoing or recently completed include:

Pavement patching, milling and resurfacing on Battery Lane from Old Georgetown Road to Maryland Route 355. This project should be completed by the end of June, weather permitting.

A new sidewalk along Jones Bridge Road.One segment from Maryland Route 355 to Gunnell Road is open.Crews have completed sod placement from Grier Road to University Road.The next phase will construct the sidewalk from Gunnell Road to Grier Road. Signage for Battery Lane’s wayfinding system has been completed. Sidewalk construction along Maryland Route 355 beside the National Naval Medical Center has been completed.

For more information on the Cedar Lane Bridge project and the Jones Bridge Road sidewalk, call

240-777-7223 or visit the Division of Transportation Engineering’s website.For more information on the resurfacing project, call 311.For more information about BRAC in Montgomery County, visit the County’s BRAC website.